The Road to Parris Island
Everyone makes decisions in their lives that can pave the way to how their adulthood plays out. Some choose to go to college, others choose to go into the family business.
Then you have the ones that join the School of Hard Knocks, the United State Military.
Have you ever wondered why or how someone came to that decision? Well let me tell you, if I hadn’t joined the United States Marine Corps I wouldn’t be who I am today.
My road to Parris Island was pretty much a given. Meaning that I was 100% sure since the age of 14 that I would join the Few, the Proud, the U.S. Marines. My father is a former Marine and I wanted to be just like him. Everywhere he walked, he just had an aura to him, a certain presence that he gave off, and a leaned back swagger to his step that I just couldn’t get as a 14 or even 17 year old kid.
Joining the Marine Corps was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I didn’t realize this at the time, but I needed the Corps more than the Corps needed me. The reason for this statement was that in my head I was bigger than the Corps. My attitude was so bad that I thought I was the best thing going.
And no matter how hard my parents tried to knock me down a couple pegs to keep me grounded, it just didn’t work.
It all began as a freshman in high school. I was the stud wrestler of my class, I was one of the only kids in school with muscles. And if that wasn’t bad enough I had all the attention of the Senior Girls. So you can imagine my ego was so inflated it could have filled the auditorium.
Thank God I never drank or smoked. I don’t know what my poor parents would have done then. No matter what they tried, my attitude just stunk. I thought I was the man and no one could tell me different.
So the road to Parris Island began on June 3rd, 1994. I was in great shape and not worried at all about what awaited me on the island.
Once the bus pulled in to the island I was welcomed by some big, seemingly psychotic, deep voiced drill instructor.
This guy had the personality of a rattlesnake and spit fire from his mouth.
Once he brought us to our squad bay we were introduced to his brothers.
These were 4 more drill instructors who took turns surrounding us and verbally degrading every man in the squad bay.
All of us men were told that we were now known as recruits and that no one is to call each other by their first name.
I was signaled out rather quickly because I was not afraid of the DIs, I stood my ground and challenged their authority.
This was a very stupid thing to do, but probably the best thing that could have happened to me.
After I stood up to the DIs I was a marked man. I was constantly being punished by being put on my face in a giant sandbox called The Pit.
I was finally shown that I am not the best, that the world does not revolve around me, and I was taught how to be a gentleman. All of these things equaled one word…humility. I was humbled.
See the thing to understand is by me standing my ground that first week of the Indoctrination of Boot Camp, I made myself standout, I didn’t do anything disrespectfully, but unbeknownst to me, I made things harder for myself.
I made myself the center of attention.
Wrong thing to do.
Believe me you get enough attention by just being there.
When you stand out, that’s a challenge. And the Marines love challenges, so they tried to challenge me constantly.
The Marine Corps breaks you down from the punk, mamas boy or tough guy you were and brings you back up to a Marine.
Instead of me getting put in the pit all the time, the Drill Instructors challenged me by putting me in charge of the Platoon.
I was given the Honor of Platoon Leader. The Corps likes a leader, not a follower.
Once I was given that title I never lost it. I went on to graduate Parris Island as the Honor Graduate for Hotel Company, Platoon 2170.
I was actually rewarded for standing my ground. The DI’s wanted to test my character and see if they could break me.
Could I handle the pressure?
Could I achieve the mission under stress?
This one little reward changed me for life.
Being humbled, learning pride, honor and commitment and becoming a Marine made me who I am today. I thank God for that. Everyday in my life I try to be a gentleman and be a good man. For even though I am no longer in the Marine Corps I still represent the title that I earned….I am a Marine.
THE WINNER WOLF, Part 5
It takes time to build a great business. Patience is a virtue. You need to put in the time, stick with it, don't quit.
Freedom- How to be free? Be who you are not someone else. If you act like someone else you're a slave to the system, a slave to the majority. The man that is told what to do is never truly free. If you're told what to to do then you don't have control of your mind. Do everything opposite of what society tells you to do.
Owning your own business gives you the ability to make your own money without an employer holding your leash. A job is not security. If you work for someone else you can be fired or delete your job title. If you work a job you are giving your soul away. You end up giving away your time at a discounted rate.
Social Media sucks. Unless you have a business get rid of all social media. It is bad for your health both physically and mentally. It's a waste, walk away and never go back.
Credit- Credit leads to debt. Debt is slavery. With good credit you become a better slave and make the bankers rich. Don't be a debt slave, don't use credit. Credit is a noose around your neck.
Never finish first. Even if you can, don't. Never show all your cards give a little, be snug don't show out till the time is right. Because one day you'll be off, you won't be first so stay in the middle of the pack. Then when it's time to show SHOW UP. Leave people wondering what you can do when challenged. Now is the time to show out. Now it matters. Smoke that joker. Always have an Ace ion the hole.
Willpower. Willpower is a muscle that must be exercised daily. You get that strength via restraint. Each time you deny yourself something you know isn't good for you to have a better tomorrow. You get better. It becomes a habit and thus becomes easier.
I'm a Wolf that shows restraint. I'm a disciplined Wolf. I can meet the violence of any human being pound for pound. I'm good with that.
If you don't fill your day with something positive the darkness creeps in. You need to establish that discipline process fast.
Winner Wolf- I'm where it starts, you're going to have to outwork me. 24 hours a day, what are you going to do with them? I have a deliberate clear eyed view. The real wolves will smoke check you. Blow right past you. I'm in it to win it. Stop playing grab ass games and play all in. Business is a combat sport 365 days a year. I should be #1, if you're going to compete against me I am the baseline.
Level up, you have to level up, take care of yourself. The measure of a Real Man is not comfort. It's leveling up via Adversity. Negative people are GHOSTS, nothing but background noise and elevator music. I'm the soul controller of my Universe. I can't control others or dictate what they do. But I am in full control of ME.
Go with your gut instinct. Never listen to what the Government tells you. Do the complete opposite, except pay your taxes, you don't want to go to jail.
-Machine out.
The Monster Inside Me
"I await the monster inside of me only to realize that I am the monster.
I am all I ever needed. I make my own DESTINY and I wage this WAR against my DARK PASSENGER.
Money can't buy THIS and nobody can take THIS from me!
THIS body is mine and out of it I WILL BUILD THIS MACHINE."
That Dark Passenger
That Dark Passenger is serious, some of you know what I am talking about, I have that Dark Passenger. That side that can flare up if I don't stay consistent in alignment and disciplined with my daily habits. If I don't stay focused on my goals/purpose that Dark Passenger starts to play tricks on my mind.
Probably, no definitely stems from the trauma of my childhood. This Dark Passenger can cause absolute chaos. What is this Dark Passenger?
It is those toxic traits that flare up when hurt, cornered or at a low vibration state. It's that downright MEANNESS that infiltrates my mind and causes me to go down dark rabbit holes of thought.
I have an insane side to me that's dangerous, truly dangerous when I feel cornered or if I feel my options are running out. I'm like an anti-social Pit Bull. Once that Volume dial hits 10, man...it's wild where that side of my mindset can go to. Not good, best to barricade me in solitary till I calm down.
Once that level is tapped into I'm seeing RED, Level 10 I lose all control and it's like the ultimate breaking of my character. It's almost psychotic like for me. I've only met the Dark Passenger twice in my life. I was truly disgusted at how I acted. When the darkness comes all my standards, principles and discipline are gone, no more rules. It was a scary and sad time for me, I lost all my wits, my calmness and all bets were off.
It doesn't come when I'm on my daily path, it comes when I think too much of our current government, current landscape of our country and when I allow the demons of my childhood to infiltrate my mind.
I don't want to break character, I only broke twice in over 50 years of life. I've got to remain cool-calm-collected. If I remain composed all will be okay. I need a clear eyed view for my day. I need to train to be my best self for not only ME but the Tribe of people I care about.
I need to make the right choices that make me feel proud, maintain my level of selfishness for that 1 hour per day. This 4 am wake up is for me to be the best version, master self, self mastery.
I need to keep that Dark Passenger locked up, by keeping FRAME with my daily discipline, knowing who I am with good vibes and good alignment.
Nothing good comes from letting this Dark Passenger in. I got to keep him in the rear view, locked in the trunk.
If I don't then there is a high probability that I will become the very thing that I hate the most.
Nuff said,
Machine out.